Sully in command in Dubai

Andy Sullivan cruised into a three-shot lead at the halfway point of the Golf in Dubai Championship presented by DP World, where the Englishman's 17 under total came close to breaking a new European Tour record for lowest 36-hole score.

The 33-year-old already has one victory under his belt this season, having won the English Championship in August by a remarkable seven strokes finishing an incredible twenty-seven-under-par.
Sullivan revelled in the low-scoring conditions once again on the Fire Course at Jumeriah Golf Estates as he carded five birdies and his first eagle of the week to sign for a six-under 66 to add to his opening 61. His seventeen-under halfway total is one shy of Ernie Els's record for the lowest first 36 holes to par at the midway point which he set at the 2004 Heineken Classic.
"We spoke about it to my psychologist before I went out, it’s basically just about staying patient and give yourself as many chances as possible. It is hard, I really had to work hard at staying patient, when I was three-under through nine it didn’t feel as good as yesterday, but you know you’re still on the right track." Said Sullivan.
"I knew I was swinging it well and if I could keep giving myself opportunities I could make a few coming in. If you’d told me I’d shoot 61-66 I’d have snapped your hand off."

That put some daylight between the former Ryder Cup player and his English compatriots Ross Fisher and Matt Wallace, who shared second place on 14 under heading into the weekend. Scotland's Craig Howie, German Max Schmitt and Antoine Rozner of France were all two strokes further back.